Political disputes in Bucharest

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats is facing great political pressure after it broke the alliance with the Social-Democratic Party

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila (gov.ro)

Social-Democrat Prime Minister and
leader Viorica Dancila has nominated three members of the Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats (ALDE) for the ministries left vacant after the Alliance withdrew
from the ruling coalition last week. Gratiela Gavrilescu was nominated for the Environment
Ministry, Ion Cupa for the Energy Ministry and Alexandru Baisanu for the
Ministry for Liaison with Parliament. According to the Prime Minister, all
three MPs have expressed their intention of carrying on the governing program
started out in 2016, which allegedly enjoys the support of other Alliance
members.

"It's important to continue to rule
in order to offer stability, to take steps towards consolidating Romania's
image abroad, especially right now, when we should be supporting for
representative in the European Commission. Starting out from Romania's
interests, from the people's interest, I have decided to nominate
representatives of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for the three
positions left vacant".

The move follows after one of the
party's strongmen, Teodor Melescanu, was elected Senate Speaker, a position
left vacant after the Alliance leader, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu resigned.
Political pundits say Melescanu's election is a desperate attempt to safeguard
the Social-Democrats' fragile majority. Co-opting members of the Alliance of
Liberals and Democrats in the Government, as well as supporting Melescanu
become Senate Speaker, go against the Constitution, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu
claims, adding that those who have been nominated have been excluded from the
party ranks. The Alliance leader went on to say that in the case the Government
structure changes, the Prime Minister should seek Parliament's vote of
confidence.

"Those who have made this choice
have done so unilaterally, not as members of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats. It's something both them and Mrs. Dancila should know. The Prime
Minister is making everything in her power to avoid this vote in Parliament,
breaching constitutional provisions and not respecting our decision to withdraw
from the ruling coalition".

The President of the Save Romania
Union in opposition, Dan Barna, has called on Viorica Dancila to appear before
Parliament, trying to persuade opposition parties to sign a pact for organizing
snap elections. According to Barna, snap elections could be organized, under
the current procedures, in approximately 6 months. In turn, Liberal Leader
Ludovic Orban said Prime Minister Dancila is blatantly violating the
Constitution by refusing to seek Parliament's vote of confidence for her
Cabinet, claiming the current Government is illegitimate.